Hatching while were gone

[chick chicks]

I had 3 chickens go broody on me they are all sharing a nest of 12 eggs which we are about 2 weeks into hatching, they should be pipping by this coming weekend, but we have plans to be away (we didn't know they had been sitting on them or else we would have planned around it), I'm worried about my rooster as he can be a bit mean, I don't want them to get hurt by him while we are away but I'm not sure if its ok to be moving them so close to hatching because that can mess up the hatch, should I get them situated now while they are still about a week away or should I just leave them while we are gone? or any other info/ideas would help Thanks

 

[The Chickeneer]

Since it's a week away, it should be safe to move them to a different spot. But since they have been sitting in that nest for so long, they might not want to move and may get out of the new nest you put them in, leaving the eggs cold. If you are going to move them, do it at night and move them somewhere dark(garage, shed etc.) and keep that place dark for a day so they don't know where they are at and they stay on the nest. Then let some light in so they can see and know where their food and water is etc.

If you move them, and they are not liking it and not staying on the new nest, but them and the eggs back in the old nest and somehow section off that part of the coop so the rooster can't get to them. Hope all goes well with your chicks

 

[chick chicks]

Thanks I might just leave them for now and section it off before we leave with some food and water inside, we wont be gone for more than 2 days. One more question, do I need to leave chick starter for the chicks when they hatch or are the hens capable of giving them something they can eat at that age?